eat brgz - West End

"At this fast-casual, outside-the-box burger spot customers choose from a long list of “toppings” (carrot, cucumber, sauteed mushrooms, chorizo, and more), cheese, and seasoning to mix into their burgers, meaning nothing gets placed on top of the dry-aged Roseda Farms beef patty (there are other patty options as well) once it’s nestled into a squishy, freshly baked potato roll or gluten-free cauliflower bun, or placed on top of a salad. Sauces, like queso or tzatziki, come on the side for dipping. The new West End location joins the original in Eastern Market." - Tierney Plumb, Eater Staff

"At this fast-casual, outside-the-box burger spot customers choose from a long list of “toppings” (carrot, cucumber, sauteed mushrooms, chorizo, and more), cheese, and seasoning to mix into their burgers, meaning nothing gets placed on top of the dry-aged Roseda Farms beef patty (there are other patty options as well) once it’s nestled into a squishy, freshly baked potato roll or gluten-free cauliflower bun, or placed on top of a salad. Sauces, like queso or tzatziki, come on the side for dipping. The brand new West End location joins the original in Eastern Market." - Tierney Plumb, Eater Staff

"Eat Brgz, the Capitol Hill-born counter for experimental mix-in burgers, opened its latest D.C. location on Wednesday, July 5. The sleek new Eat Brgz slides into the old home of Grillfish, EatWellDC’s long-running seafood spot that closed last fall at a prime Northwest nexus (1200 New Hampshire Avenue NW). Eat Brgz founder Brandon Gaynor opened the Southeast original in 2019 and counted Michelle Obama as an early fan of its revolutionary take on the American classic. Fresh ingredients and spices are mixed into each burger patty, with protein picks of beef, chicken, or Impossible meat. Best-selling orders include a double-patty wagyu smash burger with American cheese, caramelized onions, and homemade sauce. Eat Brgz recently closed its year-old Chinatown location across from Capital One Arena, and the booze-fueled relocation to the West End offers twice as many bar seats. The bar program centers around seasonal cocktails and classics like martinis and gin and tonics, plus a frose machine and local beers on draft. A crowd-pleasing brunch service kicks off the weekend early with spritz and mimosa towers served all day on Fridays to Sundays. Another fun new addition is a chicken fingers tower — a three-tiered compilation of 15 huge tenders, fries, and sauces, and fries. The caloric conversation starter ($50) feeds four to six. The West End Eat Brgz also rolls out morning hours for the first time. The brand toyed with eggy breakfast sandwiches years ago at the original D.C. store, but the pandemic put brunch plans on pause. Breakfast brings scrambled egg-and-sausage sandwiches on brioche to the table, along with flour tortilla-wrapped burritos, decadent chicken-and-Belgian waffles, parfaits, avocado and smoked salmon toasts, and fried egg-topped renditions of its burgers. Morning cocktails include the Canadian Breakfast (whiskey, maple syrup, lemon juice, egg white), peach sangrias, bloody marys, and a Carajillo — its answer to the espresso martini made with cold brew, vodka, Kahlua, and cinnamon syrup. Situated at the nexus of West End, Foggy Bottom, and Dupont, the new 3,000-square-foot Eat Brgz has a built-in customer base of locals, suits, college students, and tourists. Catering will also enter the equation in its 9-to-5 area. “I think the bar will hit a lot harder in this neighborhood, with 13 hotels in two square blocks,” Gaynor told Eater this year. Hours are 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday to Thursday. Service runs 8 a.m. until midnight on Friday and Saturday, complete with a late-night music vibe. Weekday happy hour runs 3 p.m. to 6 p.m." - Tierney Plumb

"Fast-growing burger bar Eat Brgz has called dibs on the former home of Grillfish, EatWellDC’s long-running seafood spot that closed last fall after a 26-year run at a prime Northwest nexus. The Capitol Hill-born counter for experimental mix-in burgers will plant a booze-fueled flag this spring in the 3,000-square-foot West End space with a big patio out front." - Tierney Plumb

"Eat Brgz, a fast-casual counter for experimental mix-in burgers and proprietary low-fat, protein-packed milkshakes on Capitol Hill, will add a second D.C. location directly across from Capital One Arena next month. The homegrown company’s new Chinatown digs debuts Monday, May 9, with a bigger focus on cocktails than the 3-year-old Southeast original, which counted Michelle Obama as an early customer. Eat Brgz’s new bar manager Devlin Barry-Hoke (Pearl Dive, Maydan, Momofuku) will send out a rotating list of draft cocktails ($12) from a 25-foot bar. To start the weekend early, a five-hour, $5 martini happy hour kicks off at noon every Friday. Barry-Hoke’s cocktail menu also includes an Old Fashioned, espresso martini, rum punch, elderflower spritz, and other spins on classics. Eat Brgz founder Brandon Gaynor shakes up the American classic by mixing fresh ingredients and spices into each burger patty, which arrive in a freshly baked potato roll or gluten-free cauliflower bun or on a salad. All burgers are topped with one of seven homemade sauces. The starting lineup in Chinatown includes an approachable Basic Brg (applewood bacon, red onion, pickles, aged cheddar and “basic” seasoning) and Buffalo chicken variety with blue cheese, scallions, celery, and carrots. A globe-trotting section of burgers features the popular Mexico City (chorizo, red onions, bell pepper medley, jalapenos, Oaxaca cheese and taco seasoning), and a Greek salad inspires another order. Diners are encouraged to customize creations with the choice of four mixed-in toppings from a selection of 20. Orders can be made on-site at a kiosk or in advance online or via text. A weekday happy hour will shave $3 off draft cocktails to go along with $7 wines and $6 draft beers. Capitol Hill cocktails making their way over to Chinatown include The Second Ward (vodka, lemon, mint, aloe) and Summertime Sadness (mezcal, watermelon, lemon, Campari). Daily hours (11 a.m. to 10 p.m.) will expand well into the night later this summer." - Tierney Plumb